# std::basic_string<CharT,Traits,Allocator>::begin, std::basic_string<CharT,Traits,Allocator>::cbegin

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< cpp‎ | string‎ | basic string

iterator begin(); | (1) | (noexcept since C++11) (constexpr since C++20)
const_iterator begin() const; | (2) | (noexcept since C++11) (constexpr since C++20)
const_iterator cbegin() const noexcept; | (3) | (since C++11) (constexpr since C++20)

Returns an iterator to the first character of the string.

`begin()` returns a mutable or constant iterator, depending on the constness of *this.

`cbegin()` always returns a constant iterator. It is equivalent to const_cast<const basic_string&>(*this).begin().

### Parameters

(none)

### Return value

Iterator to the first character.

### Complexity

Constant.

### Notes

libc++ backports `cbegin()` to C++98 mode.

### Example

Run this code

    #include <iostream>
    #include <string>

    int main()
    {
        std::string s("Exemplar");
        *s.begin() = 'e';
        std::cout << s << '\n';

        auto i = s.cbegin();
        std::cout << *i << '\n';
    //  *i = 'E'; // error: i is a constant iterator
    }

Output:

    exemplar
    e

### See also

endcend (C++11) | returns an iterator to the end (public member function)
begincbegin | returns an iterator to the beginning (public member function of `std::basic_string_view<CharT,Traits>`)

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